Twenty-six days into preseason practice, Alden Darby can say with certainly that Arizona State is ready for Thursday’s opener against Sacramento State. But the senior safety is concerned about one thing: college football’s new targeting rule.

In February, the NCAA’s Football Rules Committee passed a rule stating that players who target and contact defenseless opponents above the shoulders will be ejected. If the defensive player is flagged in the first half, he is out the rest of the game. If he is penalized in the second half or in overtime, he is out the rest of the game and the first half of the following contest.

On Saturday, Oregon defensive back Terrance Mitchell was penalized and ejected after hitting the Nicholls State quarterback with the crown of his helmet.

“It’s kind of got me nervous,” said Darby, a two-year starter. “I saw the guy from (Saturday) from Oregon get put out, which he did lead with his helmet. But it’s tough because I don’t know how to hit somebody. I don’t know if I should let the dude catch the ball first and then tackle him because with some hits, right when they make contact with the ball, you just run to them and that right there would (knock the ball away.) I don’t know if that would be targeting. I don’t know if I should let them catch it first and then tackle them. I have no idea. I don’t know if he gets low, how low can I actually get? If he dips his head, and I hit him in the head by accident, is that targeting? I’m nervous.”

Coach Todd Graham said the Sun Devils have discussed the targeting rule repeatedly. Officials have been brought in to provide explanations. Lines have been drawn on tackling dummies to show the correct places to hit ball carriers. But sometimes, it’s hard for players to think before reacting on “bang-bang” plays.

“We’ve talked really hard to them about the strike zone and making sure you hit the strike zone,” Graham said, referring to baseball hitter’s strike zone. “We’ve made sure we’ve educated them on those bang-bang plays, especially when you’re hitting somebody that’s not looking, lower the target head to the side, those types of things. … I couldn’t go over it anymore than I’ve gone over it.”

Senior linebacker Steffon Martin was watching Thursday night’s Indiana-Indiana State contest — “I’m from Indiana,” he explained — when Indiana State special-teams player Carlos Aviles was ejected under the new rule.

“I have a pretty good concept of (the rule),” Martin said. “Coach Graham has had a lot of referees come in to explain it. I’m kind of nervous on slant routes, but just with tackling I’m not.”

Martin wondered if officiating crews might look to enforce the targeting rule more early in the season just because it’s new. Graham said it didn’t matter what anyone thinks about the rule – the Sun Devils have to follow it, no exceptions.

“We don’t get to say what we think or (whether) we like a rule,” Graham said. “It’s rules. You don’t do that when you’re playing a card game. Sometimes you argue what the rules are, but you play by the rules. … At the end of the day, that’s the rules and we’re going to go by it. Obviously, the spirit of the rule I think is a very good thing. We should be doing everything we can to take care of the players.”

*Senior Alden Darby last week was awarded ASU’s PT42 practice jersey, which Graham uses to recognize those who excel on and off the field. But Darby hasn’t worn the jersey the past two days. The reason: His mentoring schedule got changed and he accidentally missed a session. It sounded like an innocent mistake, but it goes to show how seriously the Sun Devils take the PT42 jersey. “I got to earn it back,” Darby said.

*During the part of practice open to media, senior Kevin Ozier ran at ASU’s starting ’5′ receiver spot, which often lines up in the slot. Ozier is battling freshman Ellis Jefferson and junior Joe Morris.

*Junior defensive tackle Marcus Hardison appeared to get injured during an 11-on-11 session, but he eventually walked off the field. Hardison is battling sophomore Jaxon Hood for the starting nose position, and ”coming on strong,” according to Graham. Hood, a Freshman-All-American last season, has been challenged by Graham to “step out and set your own standard.” Hood has been off-limits to media for unknown reasons.

*Junior safety Damarious Randall (groin) is practicing but still wears a green “no-contact” jersey. Redshirt-freshman linebackerCarlos Mendoza continues to be limited with a knee issue.

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